Folding laryngoscope



Dc. 30, 1947. I v H. PALMETER ,7

FOLDING LARYNGOSCOPE I Filed y 1946 Patented Dec. 30, 1947 AEFO D GIIL NQDSQQB 'FHarry E. iPalmeter, Auburn, :N: Y;, t-assignor eto WjlliamN. Allyn, SkaneatelesliN-fi- A plic tion Jill 8 QL QQEIFK LQQLMZ- 7 Claims. (CL-128x102)? The presen-t invention appertainsto instruments usedi-n the practice of laryngoscopy, yand moreespeciallyto folding laryngeal speculums of the generaltype disclosedi-n Patent -No. 2,289,226,

granted July'7, 1'9 l-2,-to Richard -von Foregger. i

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved detachable hinge joint for -connecting the laryngeal blade 'to the usual supporting battery handle of such instruments. M

A further; object ot-theinvention is to provide an exceedingly simple and vquickly-detachable hinge joint ag-aforesaid, which allows the laryngeal blade to be *folded to a position lying relativelyclose and parallelto the battery handle or other supportjandwhich permits the blade to be easily detached from the handle and re-attached-theret Qat ill when in such'folded position, while also permittingtheblade to be s'wung to and firmly held {in ane-Xtended position, projecting laterally from the handle, as required I undernormal-conditions of use.

Another object of the inventionlis to providea detachable hinge connection between the laryns eal blade andits-supportinghandle, having incorporated therein a plurality of yieldable detents which maybe 'selectively'employed to detachably-connect the bladeto the handle, and to hold the'bladerigid in its extendedposition, respectively, at least one of said det nts coacting with a fixed hinge pin about which the blade is movable to and from thelfolded position.

A still further object 9f the invention is to provide an ,iinproveddetachable hinge connection between theioldablejlaryngeal blade'and its supporting handle which admits of the use of cooperative electrical circuit making and breaking contacts on the blade and the handle, respectively, to control the usual electrical circuit toan electric lamp carried by the blade, said contacts serving to interrupt the lamp circuit responsive to folding movement of the blade, and to automatically close the lamp circuit responsive-to movement {of the blade to its extended position of use. I

Otherandiurther objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter described and the novel features q'thereof defined .in the rap-.- pended claims.-

,. n th d win 1 Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a laryngosqOpe embodying my improved detachable hinge joint-and showing the laryngeal blade connected to the batteryyhamile, miththe blade shown in 2 full lines-initseirtel i'tiett pps'itiongandin broken linesimits foldedpositmn;

Fig. 2*lStg.ffiagmGHtaI Y-GOHlDOSitG view in a ide elevationgshowing --the detachab1ehinge-jointin a detached condition and ready for re-attachment-to connect the laryngeal hladet the batter y'h-andle;

--Fig. 3 -isa fragmentaryview, ipartly :inwerti'cal section-through the detachablehinge joint, and partly in elevation, and moraparticularly showing thedetails oi thedetents:and the circuit-making and breaking contacts;

Fig. 4 is a--'-sectional view eta-l en on the line 4 4 ofFig. 3;'=-and Fig. 5 'a fragmentary' vi'ew in bottom gplan ofthe hin'ged end of the laryngeal =bla'de. Like -reference- -character-s; designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures-pf the drawing, wherein generally denotes a supporting handle which ispreferablyof the type icontainmg one or inore" drycells of the flashlight cell type, which -eonstitute a'souree of electrical energy. 1 o the -upper endof the-battery handle 1 a laryngeal blade generally designated 2 is pivotally connected for swinging movements i rom a fo'lded -position lying :closely adjacent -and pa1 allel to-the battery handle l ,-as shown-in broken lines 1 in Figure *1- of-the drawing, to an :extended position projecting approximately at a right angle to the batter-y: handle, :but preferably incline ing A downwardly slightly from -a horizontal position, ease-shown in full lines in this=f i gure. The laryngeal blade 2 carries --a small but' powerful electric lamp 3 adjacent to the f-ree end thereof, said-lamp being connected in circuit with 1 the dryazcells, :as shown in Fig. 33, 'wit'hin the 1 battery handle I, througnsuitablecircuit-controllinginstrumenta1ities;-.whichare included in the pivotal joint t-beltween rthe laryngeal blade and the bat. tery handle, as-willihereinafter be more fullydescribed;

it will be :underst'ood,- of course, that instead ofte'mploying a supporting handle I I having-acclicontained source of electrical energy, the handle may be provided with an extension cord which can "be :plugeed in 179 any convenient electrical outlet.

Referring particularly -to Figures 1 and 3"-ef the adraw-ing, th'ebatteryhandle I includes {a cylindrical body or casing 4 which isprovided with I a -cap- 5 detachably 'connected to its lower end;- and "which, on detachment of the cap mits removal andreplacerne A l'e ed? t e ca in a d; r f el; designated "G and *being shown in Figure e. "At

the upper end of the body or casing 4, there is provided a head I which may be permanently attached to the casing, or removably connected thereto by suitable screw fastenings 8 or other instrumentalities, as preferred. The head I is provided at its upper end with a pair of laterally spaced upright ears designated 9, 9 which project upwardly therefrom in parallel relation to each other, as more particularly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. Fixed to the ears 9, 9 and extending transversely therethrough and across the space therebetween at the upper forward corner thereof is a stationary hinge pin designated Hi.

The laryngeal blade 2 is provided at its rear end with a complementary head ll fixed thereto and adapted to be detachably engaged with the head I of the battery handle I. -For this purpose,

the head H is narrowed at its lower end so'as to form a knuckle l2 which may be inserted between the ears 9, 9 of the head 'I. At its forward edge, the knuckle is provided with a transverse recess or slot l3 whichis adapted to receive the hinge, pin l0 therein when the head I l is attached to the head 1. The recess or slot l3 preferably inclines downwardly somewhat from the forward edge of the knuckle l2, so that the base of the recess is disposed at a slightly lower elevation than the extreme forward end of the recess. This facilitates the reception of the hinge pin into the recess when the complementary heads II and I which form the detachable. joint between the laryngeal blade and the battery handle, are connected together by relative movement of the parts in the general direction represented by the broken arrow in Figure 2 of the drawing. Also, it aids in preventing the parts from becoming in advertently disconnected when the laryngeal blade is moved tothe extended position shown in full lines in Figure 1. As will be noted from the relative position of the parts as seen in Figure 2, the connection of the laryngeal blade to the battery handle can be best made when the laryngeal blade is in a substantially folded and downwardly inclined position. To afford adequate clearance in making the connection of the knuckle 12 with the hinge pin ID, the lower forward corner of the knuckle is preferably beveled, as at M, which also serves to permit the laryngeal blade to be swung to a fully folded position lying closely adjacent and parallel to the battery handle I, as shown in broken lines in Figure 1, without jamming the knuckle against the portion of the upper end of the head 1 which lies between the ears 9, 9.

In order to prevent the laryngeal blade from becoming inadvertently detached from the battery handle, both when the blade is folded as well as extended, the head H is provided with a yieldable detent which coacts with the hinge pin I9, said detent including a spring-pressed ball l5 which is so disposed as to partially obstruct the throat or mouth of the recess l3 near the forward end thereof, and engageable with the hinge pin Ill. The ball I5 is preferably disposed in a cup-shaped container or housing l6 which is recessed in the head ll substantially midway between the opposite ends of the recess l3. The outer end of the housing I6 is turned in slightly or otherwise constricted, to prevent the ball l5 from becoming displaced from the housing 16, while at the same time, allowing the ball to be projected slightly beyond the extreme end of the housing by the pressure of a spring I I seated stem end against the bottom of the housing,

and at its other endagainst the ball I 5. Thus,

in connecting the laryngeal blade to the battery handle, the ball l5 will be depressed sufficiently as the head I I is engaged with the head 1, during which engagement the hingle pin I0 is pressed inwardly into the recess l3 so as to pass beyond the ball until the pin seats against the bottom of the recess l3. When so seated, the ball [5 will be projected slightly in front of the hinge pin l0, and will be maintained in such projected position by the pressure of the spring I! which is stiff enough to prevent inadvertent displacement of the hinge pin from the recess l3, while allowing 'the ball to yield sufiiciently when a substantial pressure is applied against the same on displacing the parts of the detachable heads H and l 'in a direction opposite to the movement which connects the heads, for the purpose of disconnecting the laryngeal blade from the battery handle.

After connecting the, laryngeal blade to the battery handle in the manner previously described, the blade may then be swung to the extended position shown in full lines in Figure 1, in which position the head H at each side of the knuckle l2 assumes a flat abutting engagement with the extreme upper ends of the ears 9, 9, which are likewise flat, as indicated in the drawing. In order to maintain the laryngeal blade in the extended position aforesaid, additional detents are preferably provided, said detents preferably comprising two spring-pressed balls designated l8 and 19 respectively. The balls l8 and I9 are both preferably mounted in a, single housing 29 which in turn is mounted in an opening extending transversely through the knuckle 12 of the head H on the laryngeal blade 2. The extreme opposite ends of the housing 29 are constricted in a manner similar to the housing IE, to prevent the balls from becoming displaced from the housing, and between the balls [8, I9, there is disposed a coil spring 2l having its opposite ends abutting against the respective balls I8 and IS. The balls are thus normally projected slightly beyond the opposite ends of the housing 29, and hence beyond the opposite sides of the knuckle I2, and as the laryngeal blade is swung to the extended position, the balls l8 and I9 will engage and seat in recesses 22 and 23 respectively, formed in the inner faces of the respective ears 9, 9 of the head I. The spring 20 should have sufiicient pressure upon the balls l8, [9 so as to'maintain firm engagement of the balls with the recesses 22, 23 when the laryngeal blade is moved to the extended position, while the balls are yieldable sufiiciently When a substantial pressure is applied to the laryngeal blade to disengage the balls from the recesses as the blade is moved to the folded position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the pivotal movement of the laryngeal blade relative to the battery handle I can always be efiected so long as the hinge pin I0 is seated fully in the recess l3, said hinge pin serving as the axis or fulcrum for such'pivotal movement,while the ball detents are selectively operative to maintain the laryngeal blade in its-connected condition with respect to the battery handle, and in an extended position of the blade, respectively.

As previously mentioned, an electric lamp designated 3 is mounted on the laryngeal blade at the forward or free end thereof, and accordingly, it is necessary to'establish an electrical circuit between the lamp and the battery or dry-cells 6 contained in thebattery handle, while at the same time permitting the laryngeal blade; with, the lamp, to. be disconnected, at will, from the battery handle. To this end, the lamp 3 is mounted in a lamp socket 24 to-which a conduc tor 25 is connected at one end, the conductor 25.

leading through a small conduit 26 extending along the outside of the blade and attached thereto. At the rear end of the blade, the conductor 25 leads through the head 1 in which a lateral passage is formed, extending to about the center of the head. At the. center of the head II, the head is counterbored, as. at 21, said counterbore extending to the extreme lower end of the knuckle l2, Disposed in the lower end of the counterbore 2.1 is an insulating sleeve 28 which surrounds a into a recess 3! formed in the inner end of the head I, and threadedly received on the extreme lower end. of the sleeve 30 is a metal cap 32 having abutting engagement with an insulating washer 33 surrounding the sleeve 38 andabutting. against the inner bottom side of the recess 3].. Slidably disposed inthe upper end of. the insulating sleeve 30 is a movable contact member 34 which is seated upon the upper end ofv a coil.

spring 35disposed within the sleeve 30, the lower end of the spring 35 seating against the cap 32 which extends more or less beyond the bottom of. the. head 1 to an extent sufficient tomake good contact with the central pole of the dry-cell or flashlight battery 6.

When the laryngeal blade 2 is disconnected from the battery handle I, the movable contact member M will be projected slightly-beyond the upper end of the head I on the battery handle, said upward movement being limited by an enlarged head 31 formed on the inner end of the contact member 34 to prevent displacement of the contact member from the head of the battery handle. When the laryngeal blade is connected to the battery handle and then swung to its extended position, the contact member 29 in the head ll of the laryngeal blade will engage the contact member 34 in the head 1 of the battery handle, and as the laryngeal blade approaches its fully extended position, the contact member 34 will be depressed against the pressure of the spring 35 until the blade assumes its fully extended position and is locked in such position by engagement of the ball detents l8, l 9 with the recesses 22, 23. A circuit is thus established from the dry-cells or batteries in the battery handle, to the lamp 3, causing the lamp to be illuminated or energized, it being understood that the oppositepole, of the batteries or dry-cells, together with one side of the lamp 3, being grounded.

through the laryngeal blade and the battery handle, which are preferably made of metal, to complete the electrical circuit.

When the laryngeal blade is folded to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1, the contact member 34 will become automatically disengaged from the contact member 29 before reaching the completely folded position, thus interrupting the circuit to the lamp 3 so long as the laryngeal blade remains in such folded position or when it is completely disconnected from the.

battery handle.

It will be readily. apparent that laryngeal blades of different sizes and/or types may be i readily interchangedfor use With a common battery handle when the blades and the battery handle are provided. with detachable hinge joints of the type hereinbefore described. This is particularly desirable in the usev of laryngoscopes when used for theexamination of patients of different ages ranging from small children toadults. Also, the'removability of the laryngeal blade or blades.

enables the same to be sterilized more convenversely therebetween, a laryngeal blade having part at one. end: thereof adapted to be received between the ears aforesaid, said part having a.

recess in one edge. thereof for receivin th pin therein. to, detachably and pivotally connect the blade to the handle, and yieldable means partly obstructing the open end 0f the recess and 00,- actin with the pin after the pin is seated in the recess for yieldably maintaining the blade in its connected condition with the handle, while permitting detachment thereof from the handle upon ah lication of a substantial pressure to displace the pin past the yieldable means and out.

of the recess.

2. Aninstrument of the class described, comprising a supporting handle having a pair of laterally spaced ears extended from one end thereof' inparallel relation to each other, and having a pin fixed to said ears and extended trans versely therebetween, a laryngeal blade having a part at one end thereof adapted to be received between the ears aforesaid, said part having a recess in one edge thereof for receiving the pin therein to detachably and pivotally connect the.

blade, to the handle, and yieldable detent means partly obstructing the open end of the recess and coacting with the pin after the pin is seated in the recess for yieldably maintaining the blade in its connected condition With the handle, while permitting detachment thereof from the handlev upon application of a substantial pressure to displace. the pin past the yieldable means and out of the recess.

3. An instrument of the class described, com: prising a supporting handle having a pair of laterally spaced ears extended from one end thereof in parallel relation to each other, and havinga pin fixed to said ears and extended transversely'therebetween, a laryngeal blade having a part at one end thereof adapted to be received between the ears aforesaid, said part having a recess in one edge thereof for receiving the pin therein to detachably and pivotally connect the blade to the handle, yieldable means partly obstructing the open end of the recess and coacting with the pin after the pin is seated in the recess for yieldably maintaining the blade in its connected condition with the handle, While permitting detachment thereof from the handle upon application of a substantial pressure to displace the pin past the yieldable means and out of the recess, and said part of the blade which is receivable between the ears, and the ears, respectively, having coacting yieldable detent means for rigidly holding said blade in an extended position when pivotally swung to such position, while permitting pivotal movement of said blade to a folded position upon application of a substantial pressure sufficient to release the latter yieldable detent means.

4. An instrument of the class described, comprising a supporting handle, a laryngeal blade, means for pivotally and detachably connecting said laryngeal blade to said handle, with the blade pivotally movable about an axis generally transverse to the central axes of the handle and the blade, from a folded position lying closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said handle, to an extended position'projecting substantially normal to the handle, said connecting means comprising complementary heads on the handle and blade respectively, one of said heads having a stationary hinge pin carried thereby and the other of said heads having a recess therein extending inwardly from the front face of the head and inclining downwardly therefrom when the laryngeal blade is in a fully extended position, said recess displaceably receiving the hinge pin therein so as to form a detachable hinge joint between the blade and the handle, but preventing displacement of thehinge pin therefrom except when the blade occupies a position intermediate the fully extended and fully folded positions, and means for releasably holding said blade in its extended position.

5. An instrument of the class described, comprising a supporting handle, a laryngeal blade, means for pivotally and detachably connecting said laryngeal bladeto-said handle, with the blade pivotally movable about an axis generally transverse to the central axes of the handle and the blade, from a folded position lying closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said handle, to an extended position projecting substantially normal to the handle, said connecting means comprising complementary heads on the handle and blade respectively, one of said heads having stationary hinge pin carried thereby and the other of said heads having a recess therein for displaoeably receiving the hinge pin therein so as to form a detachable hinge joint between the blade and the handle, yieldable means partially obstructing the open end of the recess aforesaid and coasting with the hinge pin on the other head after the hinge pin is seated in the recess, for maintaining the heads in an attached condition while permitting pivotal movement of the heads, and consequently the blade and the handle, relative to each other, and means for releasably holding said blade in its extended position,

6. An instrument of the class described, comprising a supporting handle, a laryngeal blade, means for pivotally and detachably connecting said laryngeal blade to said handle, with the blade pivotally movable about an axis generally transverse to the central axes of the handle and the blade, from a folded position lying closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said handle, to an extended position projecting substantially normal to the handle, said connecting means comprising complementary heads on the handle and blade respectively, one of said heads having a stationary hinge pin carried thereby and the other of said heads having a recess therein for displaceably receiving the hinge pin therein so as to form a detachable hinge joint between the blade and the handle, yieldable detent means partially obstructing the open end of the recess aforesaid and coactingwith the hinge pin on the other head after the hinge pin is seated in the recess, for maintaining the heads in an attached condition while permitting pivotal movement of the heads, and consequently the blade and the handle, relative to each other, and means for releasably holding said blade in its extended position.

7. An instrument of the class described, comprising a supporting handle, a laryngeal blade, means for pivotally and detachably connecting said laryngeal blade to said handle, with the blade pivotally movable about an axis generally transverse to the central axes of the handle and the blade, from a folded position lying closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said handle, to an extended position projecting substantially normal to the handle, said connecting means comprising complementary heads on the handle and blade respectively, one of said heads having a stationary hinge pin carried thereby and the other of'said heads having a recess therein for displaceably receiving the hinge pin therein so as to form a detachable hinge joint between the blade and the handle, yieldable detent means including a spring pressed-ball partially obstructing the open end of the recess aforesaid and c0- acting with the hinge pin on the other head after the hinge pin is seated in the recess, for maintaining the heads in an attached condition while permitting pivotal movement of the heads, and consequently the blade and the handle, relative to each other, and means for releasably holding said blade in its extended position.

HARRY E. PALMETER.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,130 Henger May 3, 1892 801,710 Carstensen Oct. 10, 1905 2,289,226 Foregger July 7, 1942 2,290,665 Arnesen July 21, 1942 2,354,471 Macintosh July 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date 139,871 Germany July 25, 1901 

